Xposure adds 5 new zones to visual storytelling programme

The Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 has unveiled five new immersive worlds presented through dedicated thematic zones, offering visitors multiple pathways to explore photography from diverse perspectives. Designed as a fully integrated cultural experience, the festival is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors.

The newly introduced zones include the Courtyard zone, which documents everyday life through candid observation; Sports & Action Photography; Nature & Wildlife Photography; Travel & Adventure Photography; and Fine Art & Creative Expression Photography. Together, these additions enrich the visitors’ journey by guiding audiences through visual worlds that combine observation, knowledge, and interaction, positioning photography as a powerful medium for understanding humanity and the transformations shaping the contemporary world.

The five zones feature many photographic exhibitions by leading international photographers, alongside a varied programme of specialised talks, panel discussions, and encounters connected to each thematic area.

These activities form part of the festival programme, which will be held at Aljada in Sharjah from 29 January to 4 February, further enhancing the diversity of experiences on offer and presenting photography as a tool for documentation, knowledge exchange, and cultural dialogue.

In its tenth edition, held under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling,” Xposure 2026 adopts a comprehensive structure built around 10 specialised zones that collectively shape the festival’s visual and intellectual landscape.

Photo for Rodney Smith | from the exhibition: Between Real and Surreal, the work Zoe Balancing Teapot on Head, Burden Mansion, New York, 2006.

In addition to the five newly introduced zones, the festival includes the Athens Zone, Global Focus Project Zone, Photojournalism Zone, Portrait & People Zone, Conservation Summit Zone, and Documentary Projects Zone. This structure reflects the breadth of themes explored by the festival through photography, spanning identity and memory, environment and conflict, and social transformation.

Courtyard Zone

The Courtyard zone presents photographic exhibitions focused on documenting daily life in cities and public spaces through works rooted in spontaneity and direct observation. Participating in this zone is Argentine photographer Guillermo Franco, presenting his project There My Little Eyes. The exhibitions are accompanied by six panel discussions examining photography in public spaces, questions of privacy, and the construction of visual narratives from fleeting moments of urban life.

Sports & Action Photography

The Sports & Action Photography Zone features two photographic exhibitions exploring movement and sport as forms of human expression that extend beyond physical performance. American photographer David Burnett participates with 4th Quarter Athletes, alongside Norwegian photographer Morten Qvale with The Art of Speed. The programme is complemented by five specialised sessions addressing the capture of decisive moments, decision-making under pressure, and the role of timing and technology in shaping sports storytelling.

Nature & Wildlife Photography

One of the programme’s central pillars, the Nature & Wildlife Photography Zone features eight exhibitions showcasing projects by Joshua Holko, Marco Ronconi, Mohammad Anabtawi, Simon King, Dan Kitwood, Virginie Ellis, Yousuf Ahmed, and Richard I’Anson.

Photos for Yousuf Alqasimi | from the exhibition: The Sky: Within and Beyond, the work On the Mountaintop A window to the Milky Way framed by ancient juniper trees at an elevation of over 2,400 metres in the Al Sarat Mountains of Oman.

The projects explore polar regions, wildlife, deserts, and space through visual approaches that examine the evolving relationship between humans and nature. The zone is accompanied by 12 talks and workshops focusing on fieldwork in extreme environments, ethical considerations in nature photography, and the role of imagery in advancing environmental awareness.

Travel & Adventure Photography

The Travel & Adventure Photography Zone presents a series of exhibitions that explore travel as a long-term narrative practice closely tied to place, geography, and memory. British photographer Derry Brabbs participates with Guardians of Time: Journeys Through Sacred Landscapes, alongside photographer Mostafa Ajjawi with Whispers of the Sky: Sharjah from Above. The accompanying programme includes seven panel discussions addressing spatial storytelling, long-term photographic projects, and the construction of narratives connected to history and place.

Fine Art & Creative Expression Photography

The Fine Art & Creative Expression Photography Zone features seven exhibitions by 17 photographers and visual artists: Christoffer Relander, Rashed Al Sumaiti, Leslie Smolan, Richard Le Manz, Romany Hafez, Cath Simard, Hengki Koentjoro, Pauline Planchon, Julian Calverley, Christian Houge, Dmitry Ersler, Ghada Al Qasimi, Liam Man, Riccardo Magherini, Lucia Giacani, Andrey Gudkov, and Andreas Urscheler. The exhibitions are accompanied by nine dedicated sessions on ‘Stage X’, where participating artists share their creative journeys and professional experiences, with a focus on the evolution of artistic practice and the development of visual language.

The festival brings together more than 420 creatives and visual artists from over 60 countries, presenting a programme that includes 95 exhibitions featuring 3,200 artworks and more than 570 events.